23 Mischievous Mai

Once Han Bing reached his room he went over every event that the Emperor had done to him since he was a child. Some had been rather horrific but none had actually killed him. Those that had tried to kill him were nobles who wanted to get on the Emperors good side.

Even now Han Bing didn't completely know what his mother had done for this to occur. He would go ask her but she was locked away in a small manor courtyard to never leave and receive no one.

It was even more bizarre that the Emperor had completely ruined the lives of the nobles who had try to kill him. No one knew what kind of weird relationship there was that existed between the two of them besides perhaps the Emperor himself.

Han Bing laid on his bed as the time ticked by. Each memory he analyzed showed that he never used the same method twice, making it very hard to guard against.

Tossing and turning all night Han Bing has a restless sleep.

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"Good morning, mistress!" Zhi Yan said as she opened the door into Mai's room. "How was the contest at the palace? I heard that you won! I knew that your cooking is amazing, you even beat the top chefs for the whole country." Zhi Yan went on and on about the contest, or Mai's cooking skills.

Mai who was completely against the Emperor had a totally different attitude about it today. Cough "Thank you" Mai said with a blush. Gone was the indifferent woman who didn't care about what you thought. Mai turned back into her easily embarrassed self.

"What did you make? Some sort of noodles?" Zhi Yan kept asking all sort of questions that embarrassed Mai further.

"Spicy Egg Noodle Soup" Mai mumbled out. She hadn't even got out of bed yet without getting bombarded with a million questions. This reminded Mai of the reason she never wanted to be famous.

"Will you make it today?!?" Zhi Yan asked with shining eyes in anticipation.

"If that is what you want" Mai replied.

"YES!" Zhi Yan was practically jumping with excitement about the food to come.

"Why are you here so early?" Mai finally managed to mumble out. She was still extremely tired from the day before and hadn't really appreciated the wakeup call.

"Oh, mistress, It's already past noon" Zhi Yan replied shyly finally noticing her behavior. "Han Bing told us to let you sleep in, but i was concerned about Mulan, and when I saw you I just couldn't help it" Zhi Yan paused when her head downcast "Sorry, mistress, please punish this one's rude behavior"

"What? I don't want to punish you…You just have too much energy for me." Mai said in a fatigued voice. "You were probably right about Mulan though" Mai looked at her adorable pig that hadn't left her side all night, as if standing guard.

"Okay, let's go into the courtyard" Mai said after a few minutes taking time to waking up.

When they arrived in the courtyard, Mai breathed in a deep breath, smelling all the flowers that surrounded her. After the Emperor's kind treatment to her she saw the true beauty that the courtyard had contained.

"Mai, you're awake" a soft man's voice could be heard behind her. Twisting around her saw Han Bing walking towards her. Mai felt tiny butterflies start to grow when she had heard his voice. Before it had been a reminder that she was a prisoner in his manor. However, after truly experience the type of time era that she was in, Mai realized that she couldn't use 21 century logic here. This was the age that nobility married for advantages and rank above anything else, including love. The fact that they weren't married and she already had her own courtyard here was more than what most could say.

"Mmm" Mai nodded her head as she stared at the man who had held her so tenderly last night in his arms.

"Good, I am glad to see that you are looking better" Han Bing said with a smile as he looked her over.

"Thank you" Mai quietly said. She wasn't positive what she was thanking him for, was it taking care of her? Watching over her? Letting her sleep? It all melded down into one feeling of gratitude.

"I know that you did a lot of work yesterday, but I had to watch you give food to another man" Han Bing said with a chuckle, showing his slightly jealous side. "I would love to eat the same thing as well. Also I couldn't eat since you disappeared" Han Bing said with puppy dog eyes.

Mai laughed as she watched his behavior. "Fine, fine, I'll make the soup… but a better soup with meat in it!" Mai replied. Mai watched as Han Bings eye lit up with joy. "Are you guys all hungry now?" Mai asked making sure to include the servants in her question.

The servants all just nodded their heads but waited for Han Bing to answer. "I am starving! Didn't you hear, I couldn't eat anything while you were gone" Han Bing said with a grin on his face.

"He knows that he is messing with me doesn't he!" Mai thought to herself as she said "Okay let's go to the kitchen then". Mai was trying to think of a way to play back with Han Bing when she thought of the perfect solution.

"Han Bing, since you can't eat without me cooking for you, I think you should learn how." Mai said this time with her own big grin on her face. "In fact, I think this is a perfect idea, you can learn how to make things and cook them for me"

Han Bing let out a cough as he stared at her with terrified eyes.

"I … I .. I can't cook. It won't be anywhere as good as yours." Han Bing tried to get his way out of learning how to cook.

"Nonsense that is what practicing is for." Mai said the continued on with "everyone else here does their share of cooking in order to get some. You should be no different" Mai couldn't help but chuckle at Han Bings face after she offered him not having any if he didnt help.

All Han Bing could do was sulk as he went to learn how to cook.